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Letters Patent N'o.` 74,913, detect' February 25, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN RATTAIl-MAGEINES.

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roALL wHoM 1r MAY ooNennN;

Be it known that I, Luv; Hnrwoon, of Gardner, in the county of Worcester, and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain -Improvements in Machines for Splitting Rattan, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of the specification, in which- Figure 1 is a'perspective view-of my improvements.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the centreof-'thc same.

Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line :v x of g. 2;

Figure 4 is a modification to be referred to.

In machines for splitting rattan it is very important that the central tube or quilh which separates the pith from the exterior shell of the rattan, should be more or less in advance of the cutters, according to the different degrees of hardness of the rattan to be split, in order that the cutters may not injure the strength of the bre or fracture the strands as they are separated. I

My invention relates particularly to certain improvements in machines for splitting rattan for which I have i an application for Letters Patent of the United States now pending, and the object of my present invention is to simplify the construction by dispensing with the cutter-block, and consists in a central tube or quilh provided with slots for receiving thc several cutters tobe adjusted.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the manner in which I have carried'it out.

In the said drawings, A represents a hollow circular quill or tubular cutter, the front, a, of which is carefully brought to a sharp edge-'to allow it to separate the pith from the hard exterior or enamelled shell of the rattan, the quill being made hollow to allow the pithto pass out of the machine. From a to a point, b, some distance back, the tube is ofthe same diameter, in order that-it may readily be sharpened when worn away by use. From b to c the tube gradually curves upward, andthe portion of its exterior vsurface lfrom c to d represents a frustum of a pyramid, the diameter at. ollbeing slightlyjgrcater than atcfau enlargement, 5, being thus made in the tube, which is cut out from d to b, formingslots for the reception ofcuttcrs B, which split the enamelled exterior of the rattan, after being separated from the pith bythe central tube or q uill, the depth of each slot atits rear end, d, extending to nearly thesurface ofthe tube from d tof, which is of a cylindrical form, and of a slightly larger diameter than the front portion of thetube from a to b, by which construction the cutters B may be readily moved back and forth to bring their knife-edgcs,g, more or less behind thc front edge a, and,

when nicely adjusted, are secured in place by screws C, which are turned down so as to bring them against the outer surface of the cutters.

It will thus bc seen that the adjustments of the cutters, with respect'to their distance from the edge ofthe quilh may be performed in an extremely convenient and expeditious manner; andshould the cutters require l sharpening it is simply necessary to remove them by unclamping th-e screw C, when thc tube is also in apesition free to be sharpened. The tube or quill may be of uniform diameter throughout its length, (see fig. 4,) and be provided with a screw-thread, t', to fit a corresponding screw-thread in the interior of theenlargemcnt 5, .by which means the tube may be screwed more or less in advance of the cutters,and I am enabled to sharpen' a greater portion of its length. Y

Ulazm.

Whatl claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A central tube or quilh provided with slots or openings, iu combination with a serios of adjustablecutters B, Substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

' LEVI HEYWOOD.

Witnesses:

N. W. STEARNS, P. E. TEsoHEMAcHER. 

